S-1875

AN ACT Relating to the Puget Sound action team; and amending RCW 90.71.010, 90.71.020, and 90.71.030.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 90.71.010 and 1996 c 138 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Action team" means the Puget Sound water quality action team.

(2) "Chair" means the chair of the action team.

(3) "Council" means the Puget Sound interagency advisory council created in RCW 90.71.030.

(4) "Puget Sound management plan" means the 1994 Puget Sound water quality management plan as it exists June 30, 1996, and as subsequently amended by the action team.

(5) "Support staff" means the staff to the action team.

(6) "Work plan" means the work plan and budget developed by the action team.

Sec. 2. RCW 90.71.020 and 1998 c 246 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The Puget Sound action team is created. The action team shall consist of thirteen members: ((The directors of the departments of ecology; agriculture; natural resources; fish and wildlife; and community, trade, and economic development; the secretaries of the departments of health and transportation; the director of the parks and recreation commission; the director of the interagency committee for outdoor recreation; the administrative officer of the conservation commission designated in RCW 89.08.050;)) One person representing cities, appointed by the governor; one person representing counties, appointed by the governor; one person representing federally recognized tribes, appointed by the governor; five members appointed by the governor, representing business, the environmental community, agriculture, and the shellfish industry; two members of the senate, selected by the president of the senate, with one from each major caucus; two members of the house of representatives, selected by the speaker of the house, with one member from each major caucus; and the chair of the action team. ((The action team shall also include the following ex officio nonvoting members: The regional director of the United States environmental protection agency; the regional administrator of the national marine fisheries service; and the regional supervisor of the United States fish and wildlife service.)) The representative of counties and the representative of cities shall be a current or former elected city or county official. The legislative members shall be nonvoting members of the team. The members appointed by the governor are subject to senate confirmation. The members ((~~representing cities and counties~~)) appointed by the governor shall each be compensated as provided in RCW 43.03.250, and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Voting members shall serve four-year terms. Of the initial members appointed to the team, three shall serve for two years, three shall serve for three years, and three shall serve for four years. Thereafter members shall be appointed to four-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of the position being vacated.

(2) The action team shall:

(a) Prepare a Puget Sound work plan and budget for inclusion in the governor's biennial budget;

(b) Coordinate monitoring and research programs as provided in RCW 90.71.060;

(d) Coordinate permitting requirements as necessary to expedite permit issuance for any local watershed plan developed pursuant to rules adopted under this chapter;

(e) Identify and resolve any policy or rule conflicts that may exist between one or more agencies represented on the action team;

(f) Periodically amend the Puget Sound management plan;

(g) Enter into, amend, and terminate contracts with individuals, corporations, or research institutions for the purposes of this chapter;

(h) Receive such gifts, grants, and endowments, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the action team. The action team may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments;

(i) Promote extensive public participation, and otherwise seek to broadly disseminate information concerning Puget Sound;

(j) Receive and expend funding from other public agencies;

(k) To reduce costs and improve efficiency, review by December 1, 1996, all requirements for reports and documentation from state agencies and local governments specified in the plan for the purpose of eliminating and consolidating reporting requirements; and

(l) Beginning in December 1998, and every two years thereafter, submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature that describes and evaluates the successes and shortcomings of the current work plan relative to the priority problems identified for each geographic area of Puget Sound.

(3) By July 1, 1996, the action team shall begin developing its initial work plan, which shall include the coordination of necessary support staff.

(4) The action team shall incorporate, to the maximum extent possible, the recommendations of the council regarding amendments to the Puget Sound management plan and the work plan.

(5) All proceedings of the action team are subject to the open public meetings act under chapter 42.30 RCW.

Sec. 3. RCW 90.71.030 and 1996 c 138 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is established the Puget Sound interagency advisory council ((composed of nine members. Seven members shall be appointed by the governor. In making these appointments, the governor shall include representation from business, the environmental community, agriculture, the shellfish industry, counties, cities, and the tribes. One member shall be a member of the senate selected by the president of the senate and one member shall be a member of the house of representatives selected by the speaker of the house of representatives. The legislative members shall be nonvoting members of the council. Appointments to the council shall reflect geographical balance and the diversity of population within the Puget Sound basin. Members shall serve four-year terms. Of the initial members appointed to the council, two shall serve for two years, two shall serve for three years, and two shall serve for four years. Thereafter members shall be appointed to four-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of the position being vacated. Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members shall be reimbursed as provided in RCW 44.04.120)), which shall consist of: The directors of the departments of ecology, agriculture, natural resources, fish and wildlife, and community, trade, and economic development; the secretaries of the departments of health and transportation; the director of the parks and recreation commission; the director of the interagency committee for outdoor recreation; the administrative officer of the conservation commission designated in RCW 89.08.050; one representative each of cities, counties, and tribes, appointed by the governor; the president of the University of Washington, or the president's designee; and the president of Washington State University, or the president's designee. The chair shall also invite to participate as members the regional director of the United States environmental protection agency; the regional administrator of the national marine fisheries service; and the regional supervisor of the United States fish and wildlife service.

(2) The council shall:

(a) Recommend to the action team projects and activities for inclusion in the biennial work plan;

(b) Recommend to the action team coordination of work plan activities with other relevant activities, including but not limited to, agencies' activities other than those funded through the plan, local plan initiatives, and governmental and nongovernmental watershed restoration and protection activities; and

(3) The chair of the action team shall convene the council at least four times per year and shall jointly convene the council and the action team at least two times per year.